Serious drainage problem in polytunnel
With the recent heavy rainfall i discovered the plot of ground where i have my polytunnel placed has a bad problem with drainage. Although i knew the ground was somewhat compacted i didn't expect to see the following. The water from the rain had risen to some 2 to 3 inches inside the polytunnel in beds and also pathways:
There is a slope to the land from neighbouring fields in a west to east dierction, so that excess water runs down into our fields. Normally it is not a problem, but for my polytunnel it now is. I need a solution to drain away the water or it will not be long before there will only be a swamp.
Since the poltyunnel cannot be moved, i am thinking of maybe digging some drain channels that slope into the ground away from each side of the tunnel, but i would prefer not to dig up too much ground as i want to use as much of the space as possible for plot beds i nthe future.
Digging out the trench for burying the plastic was laboursome enough, so i can't imagine digging drain channels to carry awayw excess water.
Does anybody have suggestions for the most effective drainage method that doesn't require use of tractors, diggers or such as i want to avoid compacting the ground any more than it already is ???
Posted
by John Flynn
2 comments
Nov 14, 2009
Eoin O'Callaghan said...
I've just ordered a large polytunnel for my own garden and waterlogging will also be a problem if I don't provide a means for excess water to drain away. In heavy rain, a huge volume of water will come off the plastic of the tunnel - this alone is a problem. If water is also draining onto your land from neighbouring fields, then a drainage ditch is probably the best option. I was told I should dig a second trench about 4 feet out from the tunnel and all the way around it. This should then be filled with course stone. This will act as a drain but you will need a channel out of the drain for the water to flow away.
